April's Digital Citizenship Champion is Nam Ngo Thanh.

Mr. Nam writes:

My main job is not a teacher teaching information technology or life skills teachers, but the teaching that drives students to become a citizen is always interested in me. This is my personal passion. Therefore, at any given time, I would like to introduce the topic of educating the digital citizenship to students.

​

We live in a flat world. The information brought to the world is never as easy as it is now. As an adult, a teacher, we need to guide our students and their children in accessing and processing the information responsibly. Our students today not only face to face but also virtual world. Sometimes, they are not aware of their actions in the virtual world right or wrong. I firmly believe that we do not have the capacity and time to manage the use of the internet, our computers. Instead of managing them by forbidding them to use or remove their technology equipment, let's teach them to use smart and safe technology. In addition, becoming a citizen also has many benefits for our students. Today, in order to be successful, people can not work alone but instead work together. When they become citizens, they know how to work together globally. In fact, in my classroom, many students have changed their attitudes as well as their academic performance when collaborating through global projects where technology is an important part of that collaboration. There are students who are very passive in learning the traditional way teachers teach, but vice versa, they are extremely active when working with technology.

I am a technology lover and love global collaboration. Read my story HERE

You can watch a lecture that I use to guide my students. HERE

Therefore, in my lessons, I regularly organize global learning projects. To do this, technology plays a small role. Students will need to use technology to find information, to work together, to connect with friends around the world. However, my biggest worry is how to use the technology properly and safely. So, first job before the project is that I always guide them how to use computer, social network safety? Once they are aware of their responsibility for using technology, I begin the next learning activity. You can help to create a positive school culture that supports to safe and responsible technology use if students are taught digital citizenship.

​

Nam was nominated by his principal, Duc Nguyen, who had these lovely things to say about Mr. Nam: 

You can read his story about his teaching Digital Citizenship Education here: https://namngovas.wordpress.com/2018/02/28/my-passion-in-digital-citizenship-education/ Mr. Nam works passionately to develop creative approaches to delivering quality education to his students in ways that inspire them to learn. He doesn’t only equip his students with the knowledge, but he also works to develop their life skills such as critical thinking, information technology, group work, etc. ... Moreover, he knows that technology bridges the gap between the classroom and real life. ... He’s inspired lots of teachers in Vietnam, changed them from someone who knows nothing about technology to someone who has become interested in it and knows how to apply it effectively and suitably. ... In my opinion, Nam is really super educational hero.